Denver, CO vs Phoenix, AZ
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Denver, CO outspends Phoenix, AZ by a wide margin per resident — $33,582 versus $15,793, a 113% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Phoenix, AZ holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 67/100 (grade B) against 51/100 (grade C) for Denver, CO — a 16-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Phoenix, AZ carries the lighter load at $1,156 per resident versus $5,126 for Denver, CO. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Denver, CO at $3,319 per resident and in Phoenix, AZ at $652.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 37% of total revenue in Denver, CO and 100% in Phoenix, AZ.
Summary
Denver spends 112.6% more per capita than Phoenix ($17,789/person difference). Phoenix, AZ has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 67/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $7 |
| Sales Tax | $2,070 | $338 |
| Income Tax | $236 | $1,260 |
| Intergovernmental | $44,661 | $50,709 |
| Charges & Fees | $5,207 | $2,998 |
| Other | $10,100 | $2,038 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $2,455 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $1,668 | $170 |
| Highways & Roads | $475 | $86 |
| Education | $821 | $214 |
| Public Welfare | $764 | $507 |
| Health | $693 | $258 |
| Hospitals | $2,855 | $1,521 |
| Parks & Recreation | $3,319 | $652 |
| Housing | $3,565 | $3,879 |
| Sewerage | $293 | $388 |
| Utilities | $4,292 | $2,480 |
| Interest on Debt | $7 | $1,760 |
| General Admin | $364 | $0 |
| Other | $12,011 | $3,878 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.